■5- 



potash was put around each tree before puddling and soil was shoveled in to 

 level it off. 



Ten days later I noted that every tree had started to leaf out. I 

 vrent up to see the first block set and it was just starting. The second block 

 although set several v/eeks later came into leaf first and has done better all 

 summer. All the trees arrived from the nursery at the same time. The second 

 block has made v;onderful groirth for such a dry season and is well ahead of the 

 block which was not v/atered. 



Mouse Populations Increase 



According to the U. S. Fish and Y.'ildlife Service, there has been a 

 gradual upswing in populations of tree girdling meadov; mice throughout the north- 

 east during the past two years. This increase has been checked by drought con- 

 ditions in some sections, where limited amounts of food and cover have pre- 

 vented populations from being higher. Infestations are spotted, and numbers 

 often show extreme variation in different parts of the seone orchard. Since 

 these rodents seek the most favorable habitat, lar^e numbers have concentrated 

 in areas of heaviest grass cover. The scarcity of natural food this year in- 

 creases the danger of possible damage to fruit trees during winter months. 



Population counts in fruit areas shov/ed as many as eighty mice per 

 acre on September 1st. Thus, before mnter sets in, such orchards will be in 

 the serious infestation class. In some cases, disced orchards often had from 

 sixty to ninety-five per cent of all tree bases infested. Cultivation practices 

 during late summer have had little value in reducing mouse populations. On the 

 other hand, such operations often served to reduce the amount of food and cover, 

 thus forcing the mice to concentrate in tree rows and increasing the chances 

 of winter girdling. 



Vfhilc fev; instances of early damage have so far been noted, fruit 

 grovrers in Canada experienced girdling as early as last August. ITith the com- 

 ing of cold weather, damage will soon start in many orchards. Fruit growers 

 are urged to begin control operations as soon as possible, varying bait place- 

 ments according to the number of active signs found present. The rodenticide 

 may be obtained through any county agricultural agent. 



Mouse Control in Storage 



' (Robert M. Htlrg of the Fish and IVildlife Service, with headquarters at 

 the Federal Building in Worcester, has prepared this timely message for fruit 

 growers. ) 



In this region there are three kinJs of mice v/hich damage apples in 

 storage, namely, the meadow mouse, the deer mouse, and the house mouse. There- 

 fore, a consideration of the methods by which we can control them is important. 

 At the outset the storage place must be made mouse-proof. No one can afford to 

 risk storing such a valuable crop as apples unless the storage structure has 

 been made both rat-proof and mouse-proof. Even v.'ith a mouse-proof building, 

 mice do get in, either by entering the doors \vhen one goes into or leaves the 

 storage room or by finding refuge in packing boxes and hence arc carried into 

 the storage. The best time to start thinking about controlling these mice is 

 before the apples are stored. In other words, place the poison in the storage 

 before it is filled \rith boxes. It might also be wortliv;hile to place some be- 

 tween the boxes while packing if this is possible. 



